Making your own glazes is a fascinating and rewarding process, even more so when making them from collected ingredients. With little equipment and following a few basic principles, it is possible to harvest glaze ingredients from your local environment, such as clay, subsoil, plants and seashells, to achieve beautiful results in the kiln. Whether you wish to make an entire glaze using collected materials, or just want to use them as additions to existing base recipes, Miranda Forrest explains how to source and prepare natural ingredients, from degraded rocks to seaweed, as well as giving step-by-step instructions for mixing a glaze, testing samples, and finally applying glazes and firing your work. Contributions from contemporary ceramicists who use natural glaze ingredients give a detailed insight into their working methods and intriguing results.Encouraging experimentation and a creative approach, Natural Glazes is a vital resource for anyone wishing to work in a more natural, sustainable way to develop their unique glaze effects.

Any real education in ceramics must involve, from the outset, an appreciation of the source materials--the rocks around us. While good, throwable clay may be a regional commodity, there is no part of the world that will not yield potential glaze materials in abundance. Potters therefore need to know how to exploit the special properties of local rocks quickly, reliably, and methodically. This new revised and updated version of Brian Sutherland's classic book on making glazes from natural sources explains how to locate glaze material and construct, test, and use the glazes created. Glazes from Natural Sources discusses rock types and other likely sources of supply, the making of test pieces, and the use of blend systems and constructions. The author also clarifies the Seger system of glaze presentation for those who, like himself, have found it difficult to grasp and apply. He covers, and supplies, formulae for glazes for all temperatures--from raku to stoneware and porcelain--and includes sample recipes. The book emphasizes careful planning and control to ensure results that are repeatable. This makes the science behind making glazes from natural sources both understandable and feasible. Glazes from Natural Sources is fully illustrated, with diagrams of techniques demonstrated as well as images of the finished works of potters to show the results of these natural glazes. First published in 1987, this book is considered a classic by ceramicists. This edition includes a new chapter by glaze expert Nigel Wood.

Ash Glazes has been designed as an introduction and practical handbook to this glazing technique, covering the history of ash glazes and the practicalities of collecting and testing wood ashes and transforming them into glazes. It will provide inspiration for working potters and delight all those interested in contemporary ceramics.

A noted potter and chemist takes the guesswork out of ash glazes by sharing the results of his experimentation. This guide to ash glazes provides practical and usable information that will benefit both the novice and experienced potter. 300+ photos, 16 in color.

Ceramic Technology for Potters and Sculptors is an accessible, comprehensive instructional manual that demonstrates the technology involved in making and firing ceramics. Divided into three parts—Background Sciences, Workshop Practice, and Raw Materials; Clay Bodies, Slips, and Casting Slips; and Glaze and Color—this book covers the whole process from start to finish. Yvonne Hutchinson Cuff carefully guides both experience and amateur potters through 46 exercises, offering a full and detailed explanation of the expected results together with supporting discussion.

Clay body additions can introduce remarkable new forms and textures in ceramic work. With an emphasis on creativity and experimentation, ceramicist Kathleen Standen reveals a range of possible effects, and profiles the extraordinary work of contemporary makers using additions in their practice.Beginning with an introduction to collecting local clay and making your own clay bodies, the book moves on to cover the array of additions being used by artists today, from hard materials like stones, glass and rust, to combustible matter and fibre, metals including wire and mesh, and colour in various forms. The book is lavishly illustrated throughout with both unique making methods and the beautiful finished works of ceramic artists from around the world.Additions to Clay Bodies is an inspiring introduction to the art of using additions and an essential companion for any artist wishing to expand their practice.

"Covers the history of salt glazing and the technical considerations--particularly kilns--that set this form of glazing apart from all others ... also showcases the work of leading salt glaze artists"--Front flap of jacket.

In this major work on Oriental ceramics and glazes, a leading authority on Far Eastern pottery traces the development of Chinese glazes and glazing techniques from antiquity to the modern era. Nigel Wood describes how glazes were made, provides an analysis of their composition, and shows how they can be duplicated today with common raw materials available in the West. The book is lavishly illustrated, with nearly three hundred photographs, one hundred in full color. These depict examples of the Chinese arts as found in pottery ranging from simple earthenware jars excavated at Neolithic sites to exquisitely designed dishes found in imperial tombs. They also show examples of modern Western ware that employ these remarkable glazing techniques.